Early Pregnancy Symptoms You May Not Have Known About
When we talk about pregnancy, we tend to quickly think of delayed menstrual periods as the most obvious sign. However, there are other early pregnancy symptoms that often go unnoticed or are confused with other conditions. Detecting them can help you get tested earlier and seek appropriate care from the start. Here we explain the most curious and least known, backed by scientific evidence and clinical experience.
Implantation bleeding
Between 6 and 12 days after fertilization, the embryo attaches to the lining of the uterus. This can lead to slight pink or brown bleeding, often mistaken for a very light period or a breakthrough spotting. This phenomenon, known as implantation bleeding, is completely normal and affects about one-third of pregnant women according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
Feeling like a cold or stuffy nose
Some women experience a kind of "pregnancy rhinitis" from the first few weeks, with nasal congestion or mild discharge without actually having a cold. This occurs due to increased estrogen and blood flow, which inflame the nasal mucous membranes, according to studies compiled by the NIH.
Changes in taste and smell
The well-known "craving" can be accompanied by other unexpected symptoms, such as a constant metallic taste in the mouth (dysgeusia) or an extreme sensitivity to certain smells. Many women report that foods they once enjoyed are suddenly unpleasant. This is also related to pregnancy hormones, especially human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and estrogen.
Mild cramping before delayed menstrual time
Feeling menstrual-like cramps a few days before your expected period date can be mistakenly interpreted as a period coming. But in some cases, these cramps are triggered by the uterus beginning to expand, and can appear in very early stages, as indicated by the American Pregnancy Association.
Sudden emotional changes
Although mood swings are typical of pregnancy, many women do not relate the first emotional ups and downs to a possible pregnancy. The sudden increase in progesterone and estrogen can cause easy crying, irritability, or anxiety for no apparent reason, even before the positive test.
More frequent urination... from very early on!
Although we tend to associate frequent trips to the bathroom with the last months of pregnancy, the bladder can become more active from the first few weeks due to the expansion of the uterus and increased blood flow in the pelvic area, as confirmed by the Mayo Clinic
Mild or persistent headache
Some pregnant women notice constant or mild headaches, sometimes even daily, early in pregnancy. These can be due to hormonal changes, low blood sugar, or blood pressure, especially in unplanned pregnancies where eating habits have not yet adjusted.
Increased basal body temperature
If you are trying to get pregnant and you keep track of your basal body temperature, you will notice that after ovulation it remains elevated for more than 14 days if there has been fertilization. This tool can be very useful in natural fertility planning, as recommended by entities such as the WHO.
Some symptoms may arise before the missed menstrual period.
Each woman experiences the first days of pregnancy differently, and the classic symptoms that we all know do not always appear.
When to take a pregnancy test?
If you have several of these symptoms, it is best to wait at least a day of menstrual delay to take a home test, as it may not detect sufficient levels of hCG beforehand. For greater certainty, the ideal is to use the first urine in the morning and, if the result is negative but the symptoms persist, repeat it a few days later.
What if the test is positive?
In the event of a positive test, it is best to make an appointment with a health professional to confirm the pregnancy with an initial blood test or ultrasound. This will allow you to start the appropriate controls to take care of both your health and that of the future baby from the beginning.
Guidance information